Compare towns
Colebrook vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Colebrook | Exeter | Newfields | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,988 |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
— |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350Lowest 35% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.